497
Appendix A.
Report of the case of the SS. Hong Bee
The S.S. Hong Brea Chinese fowned steamer-arrived at the Quarantine An- chorage on October 21st with Cholera on board. She left Singapore oa October 15th with 1,236 emigrants and 103 crew, arriving here about 6 a.m. of the 21st reporting Cholera. The epidemic began during the latter part of the voyage and was sufficiently severe that 10 deaths had already occurred before arrival and on arrival 12 cases were transferred to the Hygeia. Cleaning and disinfecting a ship so full of passengers was an impossibility, there- fore, following a previous custom, it was arranged with the Harbour Master to supply a number of junks into which the whole of the passengers were transferred.
The crew on examination being healthy were kept on board to assist in the disinfection of the ship. The commissariat arrangements were
at first somewhat troublesome and there were some complaints as to this: however, after a day or two the work proceeded more smoothly. Each fresh case was removed to the Hygeia. At first there was concealment of many cases on the junks as it was impossible for us to board every junk twice daily and examine the men, as so large a number as 36 junks had to be utilised. Later, a Sanitary Inspector from the Sanitary Board had to be loaned to us and did the round of in- spection twice daily to each junk and removed those obviously sick. It was only in this way that the work could be tackled and the epidemic soon ceased. After removal of the passengers, the water tanks were completely emptied out and fresh supply locally obtained. Some baskets of vegetables obviously in semi-decay were burned; fresh provisions being supplied locally from shore. Thorough and complete fumigation of the tween decks was carried out with Sulphur and then washed down with Jeyes' Fluid; the sides and bunks all re-limewashed. After fumigation several hundreds of rats were found killed and burned in the engine room. During the evening of the 26th about 6.30 p.m. typhoon signals showing within 300 miles were put up. This caused us considerable anxiety for if the storm came that night hardly a man would bave lived to tell the tale of the junke. Thanks to the valuable help of the Harbour Master, by 11.30 p.m. that night all the passengers had been returned to the Hong Bee and by 1 a.m. the junks were towed to Stonecutters Island shelter after a good deal of bumping. Owing to a happy run of circumstances, viz.. the signals having been seen by ne just before dark and the fact that disinfection of the tween decks was just completed that afternoon, everything went well. It is appalling to think what would have been the result, if the siguals had been missed. It does not want any words to show the terrible want of a quarantine station, but this subject is now under the consideration of the Government. A police launch was on constant duty during the whole time of the quarantine:
No. of junks used-36 from
Number of Sick-21st
12 cases.
22nd
11
October 21st to 30th.
23rd..
25
}
Total cost,
$4,446.00.
24th.
12
25th...
1
26th...
Total,.
63 cases in all.
Number of Deaths :--
Hygeia, Junks,
Total,
17 deaths
12
55
29 deaths.
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